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Ok, I'm a Tau player, and I've lost the last two games to a friend playing Space Marines. My argument to him is that we are playing on smaller-than-standard table, thus giving him an unfair advantage against my Tau since my range is now nerfed (as in, he can close faster and take me out). The table size for a standard game is 4x6; we're playing on 3 x 4 1/2.

Do I have a point? Or, should I quit my bitching?

You do have a point. In cases where I've had to play on unusual table sizes, we've altered the deployment zone so the two sides stay the correct distance apart. For example, on your 3x4.5 table, long-edge deployment zones would only be 6" deep rather than the normal 12" to ensure there's still a 24" gap between forces. Clearly it'll get a little more complex with quarters and DoW.

This is a problem with some of the long-edges deployment. Whereas the old one used to specificy distance apart the new one specifies distance in. The others are all based on distance apart though.

You are still hampered though as you can't be as far back in your deployment zone.

Get some bits of wood sheet, slap on a bit of paint and get a proper table. 4'x4' works well for 1500 points.

ETA: Double Post!

If you dont have a table big enough, you can always try playing on the floor.

I'd like to point out that all the deployment in 5th is actually measured from the center of the table, so regardless of the table's dimensions your armies should never be any closer than on any other table. Read the Rulebook carefully.

EDIT: Of course a smaller table does mean that you're closer when backed all the way up against your table edge, but this is a precarious position anyway as failed morale checks means you lose the entire unit.

Valid point and the larger the points values the more this will impact you.

You need 4x4 at least and over 1000 points 4x6 is really what you should be playing on.

Thunder555 wrote:If you dont have a table big enough, you can always try playing on the floor.

Floor games are excellent just watch out for the twin chaos titans of Toddler and Drooling Dog. Beware lest your finest fall to these faul denizens of the warp. Surely the floor must be closer to some sort of warp space rift. Send in the inquisitors to investigate...

The Green Git wrote:Valid point and the larger the points values the more this will impact you.

You need 4x4 at least and over 1000 points 4x6 is really what you should be playing on.

I find as a rule of thumb that (on a 4' wide board) allowing 2' per 500 points generally gives a good amount of room.

Yeah you would be nerfed, same thing with Jetbikes

To OP you should borrow someones nid or ork hoard army and see if your friend complains about a small table then.

Tau are especially hurt on a cramped table, as they require room to maneuver, what with being a Shoot & Scoot army. I even felt that the reduction from 4x8 to 4x6 was a detriment to armies who do well maneuvering.

make it a 6 inch deployment zone. the key is having 24inches in between each army

The Green Git wrote:Valid point and the larger the points values the more this will impact you.

You need 4x4 at least and over 1000 points 4x6 is really what you should be playing on.

That's the problem. We're playing 2000 pts.

2000 points on a half size table?! I barely have room to deploy by 1500 point army on a standard pitched battle deployment.

Not to be too mean or judgmental, but that's ridiculous.

As noted, on a 4' wide table, a good rule of thumb is 2' long per 500pts of game size. So for 2k points, the best table size is 4x8. 4x6 does okay, though, and is almost universally the accepted table size for games over 1000pts.

Personally, even at 1000pts, I find 4x4 too small for a good game.

I did once play in a 555pt tournament using 4x3s (actually just 4x6 cut in half for two games at once), and it worked okay. Better than I expected.

Agreed. Tau (almost as much as Eldar) live and die by having room to maneuver, and taking advantage of their gun ranges to shoot the enemy to pieces before anyone reaches their lines.

Wow, seriously you need to get a bigger table or put two tables together

Looking at Lowes's website a 1'x4'x8' piece of MDF is only 5 bucks. Have them slice it up into 4 pieces and you'll be set.

lol inches not feet

MasterSlowPoke wrote:Looking at Lowes's website a 1'x4'x8' piece of MDF is only 5 bucks. Have them slice it up into 4 pieces and you'll be set.

lol inches not feet

Oh yeah, I had the same idea. However, the Lowes in my town's saw wobbles a whole bunch, so I did not want to risk having them cut it. And, I have very few friends who have trucks.

Just mark it off on the floor.

I agree with most everyone here. If deploying only 6" that board would be 'okay' for 500-750 game. But for 2000?? You really need 6x4, maybe a bit more.

Frazzled wrote:

Thunder555 wrote:If you dont have a table big enough, you can always try playing on the floor.

Floor games are excellent just watch out for the twin chaos titans of Toddler and Drooling Dog. Beware lest your finest fall to these faul denizens of the warp. Surely the floor must be closer to some sort of warp space rift. Send in the inquisitors to investigate...

And don't forget the occasional Chaos Cat appearing. They sometimes even appear on the table if you're not watching them closely.

A friend of mine has a table consisting of three 2'x4' pieces of wood, and two longer boards.

The three pieces have cheap thin green felt wrapped around them and stapled on the bottom to secure.

The two long boards go over his dining room table, parallel to one another, to act as supports for the three green pieces, which are placed alongside one another, perpendicular to the long boards supporting them.

If you want to be careful not to scratch the dining room table, you can put a cheap dropcloth or plastic party tablecloth over it.

If you want a lighter solution, use 2" thick closed cell wall insulation foam (usually pink or blue) from the home improvement megastore (Lowes, Home Depot, whatever) nearest you. Paint it green or brown (spray paint usually melts foam) with matte interior wall paint. I got quart cans of it custom mixed up at Home Depot to color match the little pots of Bestial Brown and Goblin Green I brought in, for around $5 a can. I use my big 'ol pots for painting terrain and army display boards.

Problem solved. Bought 4 2x4 pieces of particle board and bought some cheap cabinet hinges to attach them and make them foldable.

I find 5'by5' to be fun with alot of room to run around in